University of Virginia Library

Wang Mang's orderly solution of a dynastic crisis

This reign began with a dynastic crisis, for at the death of Emperor Ai
there was no heir to the throne. Emperor Wen had established the
dynastic practice that the reigning Emperor designates one of his sons
as his successor by making him Heir-apparent (4: 5b-6b). Emperor Ai

however had no sons and appointed no Heir-apparent. There were,
moreover, no living descendants of his predecessor, Emperor Ch'eng.
Fortunately such a crisis had occurred twice before in Han Times: at
the death of the Empress Dowager nee Lü and at the death of Emperor
Chao. Each time the high officials had deliberated over the matter and
had selected the nearest suitable relative of the deceased monarch. Ho
Kuang had legitimized his choices of emperors by enacting them in imperial
edicts issued by the Empress Dowager. Wang Mang followed this
precedent: he selected the grandson and only surviving descendant of
Emperor Yüan, Liu Chi-tzu, a first cousin of Emperor Ai, and enthroned
him. This boy was only in his ninth year, so could not rule in person;
the Grand Empress Dowager nee Wang, his step-grandmother, who, as
the "mother of the dynasty" and regent, had been ruling for the two
months between the death and the enthronement, continued to attend
court and decide matters. She entrusted the government to Wang Mang,
her grand-nephew, who was now in his forty-fifth year.